Cracking the APA Code

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Key

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APA is hard, but not impossible.

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What’s the code?

King, S. J., & Turner, D. S. (2000). Caring for adolescent females with anorexia. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 32, 146–149. Retrieved from Health Source: Nursing Academic database.

APA learning curve

? Why me?

Eureka!

#$%^&!

Gradual enlightenment

APA 3:Why bother?

To credit other authorsTo allow readers to follow your research trail

Dear Paula, Will coenzyme Q10 reduce wrinkles?

Regarding coenzyme Q10, there are only a handful of studies showing it to have any effect on wrinkles (Sources: Biofactors, September 1999, pages 371–378, and Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie, April 1999, pages 83–88). However, neither of these studies was a double-blind or placebo-controlled trial…. "CoQ10 supplements are readily absorbed by the body and no toxic effects have been reported for daily dosages as high as 300 mg though the safety of CoQ10 has not been established in pregnancy and lactation, so caution is advised here until more data becomes available" (Sources: International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, February 1998, pages 11–12, and www.naturaldatabase.com).

APA 3:Why bother?

Which is more helpful:http://www.cosmeticscop.comBegoun, P. (2007, February). Question of the month. Retrieved from Cosmetics Cop Web site: http://cosmeticscop.com/about/ question.asp?id=664

APA 3:Which is more credible?

Terrace, H. S., Petitto, L. A., Sanders, R. J., &Bever, T. G. (1979). Can an ape create a sentence? Science, 206, 891-902.

Washoe: the signing chimp. (n.d.) RetrievedFebruary 5, 2005, from Mrs. Smith’s thirdgrade Web site: http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/classprojects.html

Best way to learn APA?

Understand the principles.Find and follow a model.Realize it’s an iterative process.

First Principle

If it’s not cited, it’s yours.Over the past 30 years, researchers have demonstrated that the great apes . . . resemble humans in language abilities more than had been thought possible. Just how far that resemblance extends, however, has been a matter of some controversy.

Conclusion drawn by the writer; no citation

Second Principle

If it’s cited, you must provide enough information to locate the source.

In an influential article, Terrace, Petitto, Sanders, and Bever (1979) argued that the apes in language experiments . . . were merely imitating their trainers.

In-text citation points to reference list entry

Where do we find Terrace et al?

Each in-text citation has a matching entry:

In an influential article, Terrace, Petitto, Sanders,and Bever (1979) argued that the apes in language experiments… were merely imitating their trainers.

ReferencesTerrace, H. S., Petitto, L. A.,

Sanders, R. J.,& Bever, T. G. (1979). Can an ape create a sentence? Science, 206, 891-902.

In-text cites match ref. list

In an influential article, Terrace, Petitto, Sanders, and Bever (1979) . . .

ReferencesSavage-Rumbaugh, S., & Lewin,

R. (1995). The ape at the brink of the human mind. New York: John Wiley.

Tenebaum, D. (n.d.) Speaking to the relatives. Retrieved August 27, 2007, from Why Files Web site: http://whyfiles.org/058language/ape_talk.html

Terrace, H. S., Petitto, L. A., Sanders, R. J., & Bever, T. G. (1979). Can an ape create a sentence? Science, 206, 891-902.

How would the second article, “Speaking to the Relatives,” be cited?

(Tenebaum, n.d.).

In-text cites match ref. list

Every in-text citation should have a matching reference list entry.

Exception: works with nonrecoverable data, such as letters, emails, or interviews, are cited only in text.

(T. Westbrook, personal communication, February 12, 2005)

Third Principle

Elements in an APA citation follow a predictable order. Author. (Date). Retrieval information.Retrieval information varies by format:

BookArticleWeb siteOther--TV show, computer program,

Congressional testimony….

APA Logic: 3—Order

Elements in an APA citation follow a predictable orderbased on the format for a book:Barrett, D. (2007). Waistland: The (r)evolutionary science behind our weight and fitness crisis. New York: Norton.AUTHOR

DATE TITLE PLACE PUBLISHER

APA Logic: 3—EBSCO

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Date). Title of article. Title of Periodical, ##, 000-000. Retrieved from xxx database.

APA Logic: 3—EBSCO

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Date). Title of article. Title of Periodical, ##, 000-000. Retrieved from xxx database.

APA Logic: 3—EBSCO

Sorenson, S. (1998). Studying the models. How to write research papers. Retrieved from Academic Search Elite database.

How do you turn raw data into an APA-style citation?

APA Logic: Creating citations

1. Follow the model:Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Date). Title of article. Title of Periodical, ##, 000-000. Retrieved month day, year, from source.

2. Have EBSCO do it.

APA Logic: Use citation maker

3. Remember, none are perfect:CitationMachine can’t handle sources with no authors.

You have to correct this:APA without tears. (2007). New York: Mythos.

APA Logic: Use citation maker

4. BibMe.org will load info, but you need to • scan the perimeter • check the results.

Autism fact sheet: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). (2008, July 21). Retrieved from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm

APA Logic: Using software

You need to choose• APA documentation style• The type of source

Note: EBSCO may be called an electronic database or a subscription service.

• Fill in the blanks with the information you have.

APA Logic: 3—Omissions

Omit information you don’t have.Usually go on to the next element.If no author is given, the title becomes the first element in the citation.

Parenthetical citation . . . (“Washoe,” Introduction section).

Reference list entry Washoe: the signing chimp. (n.d.) Retrieved

February 5, 2005, from Mrs. Smith’s thirdgrade Web site: http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/classprojects.html

Where are citation makers?

Citation Machine (citationmachine.net)BibMe (bibme.org)EBSCO (choose APA format when emailing or printing)

APA 4: Find a model

See Strategies for Learning APA handout

What do I document?

Paraphrases—others’ ideas expressed in my wordsQuotations—others’ ideas expressed in their words and set off with “ ”

APA learning curve

? Why me?

Eureka!

#$%^&!

Gradual enlightenment